Laurent Kempé

Build your .NET project with a right click in Windows Explorer

This is a tool that I always install on my machine because it saves you from opening Visual Studio when you just want to compile a solution/project. You can just do it right from the Windows Explorer. Today I spent 10 minutes searching for it, as I couldn’t remember the name, I made a little ‘note to self’.

MSBuildShellExtension lets you build .NET projects without ever opening Visual Studio or the command prompt. MSBuild targets can be executed from your favourite file system tool like Windows Explorer or Total Commander. The possibility to extend MSBuildShellExtension with your own targets and editors, makes it a very flexible and useful tool for all .NET developers.

Devices and Printers empty on Windows 7

For some days I had the following issue on my Windows 7 installation: clicking on the start orb then on Devices and Printers would open the window, show a progress bar and then nothing else, a completely empty folder.

I tried a restore that didn’t solved the issue but it reminded me that I installed some days ago a Bluetooth software for a Bluetooth headset I received as a Microsoft MVP gift. This gave me the direction to search for.

I ended up seeing in the Services that the “Bluetooth Support Service” was stopped and that it Statup type was set to disabled. Re-enabling it fixed my issue and now I have again the full list of Devices and Printers shown in the dialog.

Joining JetBrains Academy

I am pleased to announce that I was invited to join JetBrains Development Academy and accepted the invitation.

If you read this blog I guess you already know that I am a big fan of their development tools, especially ReSharper and Team City which make my daily job easier and more productive.

About JetBrains Development Academy:

Mission Statement

The JetBrains Development Academy fosters a community of experts and evangelists to champion best development practices and promote software innovation worldwide. The Academy serves as a connection point for developers who strive to adopt top methodologies and use JetBrains products to help them achieve that goal.

Membership

Members of the Academy are recognized experts in various areas of software development. They contribute to Java and .NET communities by advocating best development practices through formal and informal publications and meetings, and serve as a versatile source of expertise.

Community Benefits

• Increased awareness of and adherence to best development practices
• New channels for community involvement and exchange
• Access to know-how from JetBrains insiders and outside experts
• Accelerated innovation and enhanced product quality for end users
• Opportunities for growth on personal, organization and community levels

You can find more about my posts on ReSharper on this page and about Team City on that one.